Rotating wiener grill

ABSTRACT

A reel of a wiener grill, driven via a slip clutch, supports an annular array of removable hangers which circle a stationary heating element located at the core of the reel. A pair of wieners held by any one of the hangers is exposed on all sides to the heating element, or a single wiener held by a hanger is similarly exposed and locates itself toward the front side of the hanger. The ends of the reel are tied together by open-structured tying means located radially between the central heating element and the hangers, and the hangers are open on their front side so that fingers or tongs can be moved into or through that side to readily remove wieners. The stationary heating element can be shifted and the reel lifted off its associated driving and stationary bearing elements for removal for cleaning, and for further disassembly of the individual hangers from the reel if desired.

United States Patent Adamitis ROTATING WIENER GRILL 72 Inventor: James s. Adamitls, 7955 Royal Ridge Drive, Parma, Ohio 44129 22 Filed: Dec. 21, 1910 21 Appl. No.: 100,064

[52] U.S. Cl. ..99/443 R [51] Int. Cl. ..A47j 37/04 [58] Field otSearch ..99/443, 421, 427; 107/59; 7

[ 56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,634,142 6/1927 Hammond ..99/427 X 2,517,360 8/1950 Singer ..99/427 X 2,579,827 12/1951 Johnson 99/427 UX 2,626,341 H1953 Bolling ..107/59 X 2,718,200 9/1955 Houlis... .....lO7/59 2,927,545 3/1960 Hieb ..107/59 3,074,360 1/1963 Vaughan.. ..107/59 3,214,566 10/1965 Wilson ..99/443 C UX [4511 Apr. 25, 1972 2/1966 Vaughan 107/59 ABSTRACT A reel of a wiener grill, driven via a slip clutch, supports an annular array of removable hangers which circle a stationary heating element located at the core of the reel. A pair of wieners held by any one of the hangers is exposed on all sides to the heating element, or a single Wiener held by a hanger is similarly exposed and locates itself toward the front side of the hanger. The ends of the reel are tied together by open-structured tying means located radially between the central heating element and the hangers, and the hangers are open on their front side so that fingers or tongs can be moved into or through that side to readily remove wieners. The stationary heating element can be shifted and the reel lifted off its associated driving and stationary bearing elements for removal for cleaning, and for further disassembly of the individual hangers from the reel if desired.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures ROTATINGWIENER GRILL FIELD or INVENTION This invention relates to apparatus for grilling wieners and similar foodstuffs carried upon a rotating reel during grilling and, more particularly, to rotating reel having an annular array of hangers arranged to support such foodstuffs and provide uniform grilling.

PRIOR ART The type of grilling apparatus of concernis often provided as a compact unit designated for the continuous preparation and warming of a supply of weiners or the like. Wiener grills are preferably automatic in their operation since they are typically used in a commercial situation without continuous supervision or with only irregular attention by an operator who has other duties. In addition, it is desirable that wieners, for example, be easily loaded and removedfrom the grill as well as readily identified with respect to the-sequence of loading and grilling time. It is also desirable that the weiner grill be rela tively easy to clean. In some instances, the cleaning process may require the disassembling of the apparatus in order to acquire access to the various parts thereof. Thus, it is preferable that such apparatus be easily and quickly disassembled.

Wiener grills are generally provided with a housing which defines a grilling chamber and supports a rotating reel therein, an electric'motor to drive the reel, and a heating means such as anelectric heating element. The wieners are carried by the reel to provide more uniform exposure and grilling thereof. For example, the heat distribution within the grilling chamber may not be uniform and the movement of the wieners tends to compensate for this. p v

Wiener grills of the prior art are not entirely satisfactory with respect to the operational features described above. For example, in some prior art apparatus, the positioning of the heating element and/or the reliance upon a convection-type heating necessitates the use of a closed grilling chamber to provide uniform heat distribution and, grilling of the wieners. Consequently, it isnecessary for the operator to open and close a grilling chamber closure to gain access to the chamber. This is, of course, time consuming and frequently quite awkward when the operator is also carrying other items such as bread, rolls, or eating utensils. In addition, the closure may hinder the operator's ability to visually check the supply of prepared wieners as such closures frequently provide only a small viewing window.

In some. prior art grilling apparatus, the wieners are retained on a reel by an array of prongs extending therefrom which pierce the weiners. The loading and removal of wieners in this case is further hindered by the pierce type support of the wieners. In addition, the pierce-type support also tends to result in the drainage of natural fluids from the wieners or the like. These fluids accumulate upon the reel and interior portions of the grilling chamber and must subsequently be removed by a laborious cleaning process since these fluids are baked or hardened by the grilling heat.

The prior art also teaches the use or a reel having an array of planar shelves for supporting the wieners. The use of such shelves for support is undesirable since they constitute a relatively substantial bulk or mass within the grilling chamber which interferes with the heat distribution and the grilling process. The shelves also comprise a significant amount of surface area which must be subsequently cleaned aftergrilling.

The cleaning of prior art grilling apparatus is also frequently hindered by the unitary structure of-the apparatus and/or difficulties encountered in disassembling the various parts thereof. For example, the reel may not be removable from its mounted position within the grilling chamber. In this case, the cleaning of the reel is greatly obstructed by the adjacent walls of the grilling chamber. Further, certain portions of the reel and the grilling chamber may completely obstruct one another so as to render the cleaning of such portions impossible without disassembling the apparatus. Consequently, the ease THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention provides a grilling apparatus for wieners and similar foodstuffs which are carried upon an annular array of hangers supported by a rotating reel. The apparatus includes a centrally located heat radiating means about which wieners or the like travel in a circular orbit upon the array of hangers to provide uniform grilling.

In an illustrated embodiment, the grilling apparatus includes a frame or housing for supporting the reel and a stationary infrared heating element removably mounted along the longitudinal axis of the reel. The reel includes spaced, annular end members tied together by longitudinally extending rods. The rods provide a relatively, open structure which does not significantly hinder the radiation of heat. Each hanger of the annular array of hangers is pivotally mounted adjacent the outer periphery of the annular end members of the reel to maintain a pre-established hanging orientation. Each hanger has an open-finger structure which extends in a lateral direction for supporting the wieners. Thus, the hangers and wieners remain parallel with the axis of the reel and the heating element as they travel in the circular orbits. The centers of gravity of the individual hangers are such that in their pre-established hanging orientation, the hangers are inclined downwardly with respect to the horizontal to maintain the wieners on the portions of the hangers which are adjacent an access opening in the front of the housing.

The rotating reel is removably mounted within the housing and may be quickly removed as a unit after the heating element has been longitudinally withdrawn from its centrally located position. In addition, the individual hangers are removable from their supported positions in the annular end members. I

The heating element, the reel and the hangers may each be removed from the grilling apparatus without the prior loosening or removal of fasteners, since these items are physically interfitted with one another. Consequently, the grilling apparatus of the present invention may be quickly and easily disassembled without tools for cleaning purposes. Since the wieners are not pierced during grilling, the tendency of natural fluids to drain onto the apparatus is minimized to further facilitate the cleaning process.

The loading and removal of wieners is facilitated by the open-finger structure of the hangers upon which the wieners are supported. In addition, the wieners are supported on the hangers so as to be parallel with the axis of the reel and adjacent the outer periphery thereof. Thus, the wieners may be quickly and easily loaded or removed.

The sequence of loading and grilling time may be readily determined by the tendency of the wieners to position themselves at the outermost lateral extent of the supporting hanger due to the inclined orientation of the hanger. For example, the

I operator merely places wieners to be grilled at a radially inward position on the hanger adjacent the wieners already being grilled. As prepared wieners are removed from their outermost lateral position on the hanger, the adjacent wieners advance or roll laterally outwardly to the vacant position previously occupied by the removed wiener.

The centrally located heating element uniformly grills the wieners as they are carried on the annular array of hangers. Since the heating element is substantially surrounded by the annular array of hangers carrying the wieners and radiant heat is employed, the access opening to the: grilling chamber does not need a closure to insure uniform heat distribution and grilling. Accordingly, the operator is not inconvenienced by such a closure as is the case with some prior an apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a grilling apparatus including a housing having a rotating reel mounted therein for supporting an annular array of hangers and a centrally mounted heating element;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of the reel, the array of hangers and the heating element being partially withdrawn or removed;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, perspective view, from below and to the right of the viewpoint of FIG. 1, illustrating a plug receptacle carried by the housing and a portion of the heating element engaged within the receptacle;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the reel, the array of hangers, the plug receptacle, the heating element, and a drive coupling, with parts omitted for illustration purposes, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 44 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale of the drive coupling shown in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is an end view of one of the hangers shown in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a grilling apparatus 10 including a housing or frame 12. The housing 12 defines a grilling chamber 14 in which a rotating reel 16 is mounted. The front side of the housing 12 includes an access opening 18 to the grilling chamber 14. Within a substantially enclosed portion of the housing 12, adjacent the right hand extremities thereof as shown in FIG. 1, there is mounted a driving means including power means such as an electric motor (not shown) arranged for rotation of the reel 16. A control means 20 is provided for turning the electric motor (not shown) on and off. In addition, the control means 20 may be arranged to regulate the speed of rotation of the reel 16 in a known manner.

A stationary infrared heating element 22 is centrally mounted along the horizontal longitudinal axis or core of the reel 16. A plug handle 24 is connected to one end of the heating element 22 to facilitate the removal thereof from the grilling apparatus 10. The control means 20 may also be arranged to turn the heating element 22 on and off.

As more clearly shown in FIGS. 2 through 4, the rotating reel 16 includes annular end members 26 and 28 which are maintained in spaced relationship by tie rods 30. The tie rods are symmetrically spaced about the longitudinal axis of the reel 16 and are provided with an open structure to minimize interference with the heat radiating from the element 22. An annular array of hangers 32 are pivotally mounted adjacent the outer periphery of the reel 16, radially outward of the tie rods 30. As set forth in greater detail below, each of the hangers 32 is maintained in a pre-established hanging orientation and extends longitudinally along the reel.

The end member 26 is provided with a centrally located annular bearing flange 34 which defines an opening 36 adapted to receive the heating element 22. To that end, the adjacent side wall of the housing 12 has an opening 37 which is axially aligned with the opening 36. The opening 37 is sized to permit passage therethrough of a ceramic end fitting 38 which is fastened to the heating element 22 by means of nuts 39. The heating element is provided with male contacts 40 (only one of the two male contacts can be seen in the drawings) which project from the ceramic end fitting 38.

The annular bearing flange 34 is received within and supported by a stationary bearing means 42 provided by a plug receptacle 44 which is mounted on the housing 12. The reel is retained against longitudinal movement by a shoulder 43 provided by the bearing means 42. The shoulder works against the end of the annular bearing flange 34 to prevent such movement.

The plug receptacle includes an interiorly mounted ceramic member 46 which cooperates with the plug receptacle to define a socket 47 for receiving and supporting the end fitting 38. The socket 47 is aligned with the opening 37 in the side wall of the housing 12 and the opening 36 defined by the bearing flange 34. The ceramic fitting 46 is provided with female contacts 48 (only one of the two female contacts can be seen in the drawings) for receiving the male contacts 40 as the heating element is inserted and the fitting 38 is positioned within the socket 47.

To facilitate the insertion and removal of the heating element 22, a plug handle 24 is provided, secured to the ceramic fitting 38 by means of screws 54. Thus, the heating element 22 may be inserted and connected or removed and disconnected by simply longitudinally advancing or withdrawing the plug handle 24 which moves these items as a unit.

The end member 28 is provided with a centrally located hexagonal shaped socket 56. The socket 56 is adapted to receive one end of the drive coupling 58 which is adapted to support the end member 28 and drive the reel 16. The drive coupling 58 includes a stub shaft 60 and it is driven by suitable power means such as an electric motor (not shown). As previously indicated, the driving means including the power means is mounted within a substantially enclosed portion of the housing 12 and only the drive coupling 58 protrudes into the grilling chamber 14.

The drive coupling 58 includes a slip clutch means 62 for driving the reel 16. The slip clutch is provided for the safety of the operator while he is loading or removing wieners from the reel. If the reel is accidentally or intentionally stopped while it is being driven, the slip clutch 62 permits the stub shaft 60 to continue rotating in a non-driving manner. Accordingly, the operators safety is provided for and the electric motor (not shown) is protected.

As best shown in FIG. 5, the stub shaft 60 is received within an externally threaded sleeve 64. The sleeve 64 is secured to the stub shaft by means of a nut-lock 66 and a set screw 68. The nut-lock 66 retains a washer 70 against a shoulder 72 provided by the sleeve 64. The exposed face 74 of the washer 70 provides a torque transmitting surface which engages the slip clutch means 62. The clutch 62 transmits the torque to a hexagonal drive-slip member 76 which is fitted within the socket 56 of the end member 28. To that end, the drive-slip member 76 provides a radially extending shoulder 78 which is fitted against one side of the clutch means 62. The clutch 62 comprises a pair of oppositely sprung disc-springs 80 and 82 which are arranged to work against one another and transmit torque from the exposed surface 74 of the washer 70 to the shoulder 78 of the drive-slip member 76 to drive the reel 16. When rotational movement of the reel 16 is resisted and the clutch slips, the sleeve 64 freely rotates within the drive-slip member 76.

As the reel 16 is rotated, the annular array of hangers 32 is moved about the heating element 22 in a circular orbit with each of the hangers 32 remaining in a pre-established hanging orientation. To that end, each of the hangers is pivotally mounted with oppositely disposed mounting holes 84 in the end members 26 and 28 and extends longitudinally along the axis of the reel 16.

The hangers 32 are provided with an open-finger structure which facilitates the loading and removal of wieners therefrom. The hanger 32 is supported adjacent each of its longitudinal ends by a step-shaped support member 86 which is received within its associated mounting hole 84. The mounting end of the support member 86 is provided with an end head 88 which is dimensioned to pass through the mounting hole 84. The support member 86 is slightly radially displaced to a supported position upon the radially inward surfaces of the mounting hole 84 after the end head 88 has been passed therethrough. Accordingly, when each of the end heads 88 of a particular hanger 32 have been mounted within their associated holes 84, the hanger is restrained against longitudinal movement. Specifically, the undersides 90 of the end heads 88 work against the outer surfaces of the end members 26 and 28 to restrain such longitudinal movement. However, the hanger 32 may be removed by manually lifting it to radially align the end head 88 with the mounting hole 84, and then longitudinally shifting the hanger relative to the reel.

As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the hanger 32 is provided with an array of laterally extending Wiener support members 92. The support members 92 have a U-shaped structure including generally upright legs 94 and 96 and connecting legs 98 adapted to receive wieners or the like. Each of the stepshaped members 86 has a wiener support member 92 mounted thereon adjacent the undersides of the connecting leg 98. The support member 92 is arranged so that the upright leg 96 passes adjacent the front side of the housing 12 and the access opening 18 as the reel 16 rotates. A longitudinally extending connector rod 100 is secured to the legs 94 of the wiener support members 92 which are mounted on the step-shaped members 86. A number of additional wiener support members 92 are similarly secured to the rod 100 at longitudinally spaced locations intermediate the members 86. In the illustrated embodiment, four equally spaced wiener support members 92 are shown, however, any suitable number of support members 92 may be employed.

The two wiener support members 92 that are mounted on the step-shaped members 86 are connected thereto at a location rearwardly spaced from the midpoint of the connecting leg 98. Consequently, the center of gravity of the hanger is such that the laterally extending wiener support members 92 slant slightly off the horizontal and downwardly toward the front side of the housing 12 and the access opening 18. Accordingly, the wieners tend to slide or roll along the connecting leg 98 towards the upright leg 96 which restrains them. Since the connector rod 100 ties the members 92 together adjacent the legs 94 thereof, the legs 96 and 98 are relatively open to facilitates loading and removing wieners.

OPERATION The wieners are loaded within the grilling apparatus by placing them upon the annular array of hangers 32 with their longitudinal axes essentially parallel to the axis of the reel 16. In each hanger, two wieners may be supported upon the connecting legs 98 of the members 92. The annular array of hangers carries the wieners about the stationary heating element 22 in a circular orbit while remaining parallel thereto in a preestablished hanging orientation. Accordingly, the wieners are exposed on all sides thereof to the radiating heat and are uniformly grilled.

The relatively open structure of the hangers 32 permits the operator to easily and quickly remove wieners from the apparatus at the end of the grilling cycle. For example, the operator may retrieve with his fingers or tongs the wiener closest to the legs 96 of the wiener support members 92. Upon the removal of such a wiener, a wiener previously positioned alongside the removed wiener will roll or laterally slide towards the legs 96 so as to occupy the vacated position. In this manner the wieners tend to be conveniently positioned for removal and the operator is able to readily unload each hanger on a first in, first out basis.

As previously indicated, the grilling apparatus 10 may be easily and quickly disassembled for cleaning purposes. For example, the hangers 32 may be individually removed from their supported positions within the mounting holes 84. In this instance, the hanger 32 is merely shifted to align the end heads 88 with their associated mounting holes 84 so as to permit them to be longitudinally passed therethrough.

The reel 16 including the annular array of hangers 32 may be removed from the grilling apparatus 10 as a single unit. In this case, the heating element 22 is initially removed from its supported position in the socket 47. The heating element is disconnected and removed by longitudinally withdrawing the element with the plug handle 24. Thus, the heating element 22 and the ceramic end fitting 38 are withdrawn through the opening 36 of the bearing flange 34 and the axially aligned opening 37 in the housing 12. With the ceramic end fitting out of the way, the bearing flange 34 may be slightly lifted to clear the shoulder 43, and the reel 16 may then be longitudinally shifted to the left as viewed in FIG. 4 so as to disengage the drive-slip member 76 from its position within the socket 56 in the end member 28 of the reel. The bearing flange 34 may then be freely lifted from the stationary bearing means 42 so as to permit the removal of the entire reel 16. The removed reel may then be disassembled by removing the individual hangers. The grilling chamber 14 may also be easily cleaned since it is now unobstructed by the reel 16. The parts may be readily reassembled and reinstalled by reversing the sequence just described.

The invention is not restricted to the slavish imitation of each and every one of the details described above, which have been set forth merely by way of example with the intent of most clearly setting forth the teaching of the invention. Obviously, devices may be provided which change, eliminate, or add certain specific details without departing from the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Wiener grill apparatus comprising a housing, reel means mounted for rotation relative to said housing about a horizontal longitudinal core, means for driving said reel means, an an nular array of hangers each maintaining a pre-established hanging orientation and extending longitudinally along the reel means and located radially outwardly of said core, sta tionary heat radiating means extending centrally of said reel means along said core, said hangers maintaining their said preestablished hanging orientations and making circular orbits about said heat radiating means while remaining parallel thereto during rotation of said reel means, said reel means including longitudinally spaced end members for supporting said hangers in said annular array and open-structured tying means located radially interiorly of said annular array of hangers for tying said end members to each other for rotation together without significantly interfering with either radiation of heat from said centrally extending heat radiating means or removal of wieners from said hangers, at least some of said hangers comprising an array of laterally extending wiener support members longitudinally spaced from each other and longitudinally extending means tying said array of said support members together at one side thereof whereby fingers or tongs or the like can be moved into or through the other side of the array to readily lift wieners therefrom, said means for driving said reel means comprising a stub shaft rotatable by power means and having a drive coupling coaxially engaging and carrying one of said r'eel end members and said one end member being releasable from the stub shaft drive coupling by slight longitudinal withdrawal of said reel means from said stub shaft, the other end member of the reel means having an annular central bearing flange, stationary bearing means carried on the frame and positioned to rotatably support the weight of the reel means via the central bearing flange and restrain the reel means against said slight longitudinal withdrawal but to allow removal of the restraint by manual lifting of the reel means from the stationary bearing means, the heat radiating means being longitudinally removable from interference with either of the reel end members whereby the reel is readily removable for cleaning by removing said heat radiating means and manually lifting the reel means from the stationary bearing means, said stub shaft drive coupling including slip clutch means between the shaft proper and the associated end member of the reel, said end members having formed therein mounting holes for receiving the hangers, the hangers having end heads which in assembled condition of the reel are removably received through said holes, the undersides of the end heads thereby being engageable with outer sides of the end members to restrain the hangers against longitudinal movement, but being removable from such engagement by manual lifting and longitudinal shifting of the hanger relative to the reel.

2. Wiener grill apparatus comprising a housing, reel means mounted for rotation relative to said housing about a horizontal longitudinal core, means for driving said reel means, an annular array of hangers each maintaining a pre-established hanging orientation and extending longitudinally along the reel means and located radially outwardly of said core, stationary heat radiating means extending centrally of said reel means along said core, said hangers maintaining their said preestablished hanging orientations and making circular orbits about said heat radiating means while remaining parallel thereto during rotation of said reel means, said reel means including longitudinally spaced end members for supporting said hangers in said annular array, of said hangers comprising an array of laterally extending wiener support members longitudinally spaced from each other and longitudinally extending means tying said array of said support members together at one side thereof whereby fingers or tongs or the like can be moved into or through the other side of the array to readily lift wieners therefrom.

3. Wiener grill apparatus comprising a housing, reel means mounted for rotation relative to said housing about a horizontal longitudinal core, means for driving said reel means, an an nular array of hangers each maintaining a pre-established hanging orientation and extending longitudinally along the reel means and located radially outwardly of said core, stationary heat radiating means extending centrally of said reel means along said core, said hangers maintaining their said preestablished hanging orientations and making circular orbits about said heat radiating means while remaining parallel thereto during rotation of said reel means, said reel means including longitudinally spaced end members for supporting said hangers in said annular array, at least some of said hangers comprising an array of laterally extending wiener support members longitudinally spaced from each other and laterally extending sufficiently to allow a wiener to roll or laterally slide thereon far enough to displace itself by a full width or to support two wieners side by said thereon and parallel to said heating radiating means, said laterally extending wiener support members slanting slightly off the horizontal and downwardly toward one side of the reel means, corresponding to the front of the apparatus, in the said pro-established hanging orientation whereby a wiener placed on the hanger will always roll or slide toward the front of the apparatus if it is the only wiener supported on the hanger or if a wiener supported in front of it is removed, said hanger including longitudinally extending means tying said array of said support members together at one side thereof whereby fingers or tongs or the like can be moved into or through the other side of the array to readily lift wieners therefrom.

4. Wiener grill apparatus comprising a housing, reel means mounted for rotation relative to said housing about a horizontal longitudinal core, means for driving said reel means, an annular array of hangers each maintaining a pre-established hanging orientation and extending longitudinally along the reel means and located radially outwardly of said core, stationary heat radiating means extending centrally of said reel means along said core, said hangers maintaining their said preestablished hanging orientations and making circular orbits about said heat radiating means while remaining parallel thereto during rotation of said reel means, said reel means including longitudinally spaced end members for supporting said hangers in said annular array, at least some of said hangers comprising an array of laterally extending wiener support members longitudinally spaced from each other and longitudinally extending means tying said array of said support members together only at one side thereof whereby fingers or tongs or the like can be moved into or through the other side of the array to readily lift wieners therefrom, said end members having formed therein mounting holes for receiving the hangers, the hangers having end heads which in assembled condition of the reel are removably received through said holes, the undersides of the end heads thereby being engageable with the outer sides of the end members to restrain the hangers against longitudinal movement, but being removable from such engagement by manual lifting and longitudinal shifting of the hanger relative to the reel.

5. Wiener grill apparatus comprising a housing, reel means mounted for rotation relative to said housing about a horizontal longitudinal core, means for driving said reel means, an annular array of hangers each maintaining a pre-established hanging orientation and extending lon itudinally along the reel means and located radially outwar ly of said core, stationary heat radiating means extending centrally of said reel means along said core, said hangers maintaining their said preestablished hanging orientations and making circular orbits about said heat radiating means while remaining parallel thereto during rotation of said reel means, said reel means including longitudinally spaced end members for supporting said hangers in said annular array, said means for driving said reel means comprising a stub shaft rotatable by power means and having a drive coupling coaxially engaging and carrying one of said reel end members and said one end member being releasable from the stub shaft drive coupling by slight longitudinal withdrawal of said reel means from said stub shaft, the other end member of the reel means having an annular central bearing flange, stationary bearing means carried on the frame and positioned to rotatably support the weight of the reel means via the central bearing flange and restrain the reel means against said slight longitudinal withdrawal but to allow removal of the restraint by manual lifting of the reel means from the stationary bearing means, the heat radiating means being longitudinally removable from interference with either of the reel end members whereby the reel is readily removable for cleaning by removing said heat radiating means and manually lifting the reel means from the stationary bearing means.

6. Wiener grill apparatus comprising a housing, reel means mounted for rotation relative to said housing about a horizontal longitudinal core, means for driving said reel means, an annular array of hangers each maintaining a pre-established hanging orientation and extending longitudinally along the reel means and located radially outwardly of said core, stationary heat radiating means extending centrally of said reel means along said core, said hangers maintaining their said preestablished hanging orientations and making circular orbits about said heat radiating means while remaining parallel thereto during rotation of said reel means, said reel means including longitudinally spaced end members for supporting said hangers in said annular array and open-structured tying means located radially interiorly of said annular array of hangers for tying said end members to each other for rotation together without significantly interfering with either radiation of heat from said centrally extending heat radiating means or removal of wieners from said hangers.

7. Wiener grill apparatus comprising a housing, reel means mounted for rotation relative to said housing about a horizontal longitudinal core, means for driving said reel means, an annular array of hangers each maintaining a pre-established hanging orientation and extending longitudinally along the reel means and located radially outwardly of said core, stationary heat radiating means extending centrally of said reel means along said core, said hangers maintaining their said preestablished hanging orientations and making circular orbits about said heat radiating means while remaining parallel thereto during rotation of said reel means, said reel means including longitudinally spaced end members for supporting said hangers in said annular array and open-structured tying means located radially interiorly of said annular array of hangers for tying said end members to each other for rotation together without significantly interfering with either radiation of heat from said centrally extending heat radiating means or removal of wieners from said hangers, a plug receptacle carried by said frame or housing, a plug-handle carrying said heat radiating means and receivable in an opening in said frame or housing in mounted relationship therein and in plugged-in relationship with said receptacle to position the heat radiating means in the core of the reel means and connect it with a source of power, the plug-handle together with said heat radiating means being disconnectable and removable by withdrawal of the plug-handle from said receptacle and withdrawal of said heat radiating means through said opening.

STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 355L995 Da Anril 25. 1972 Inventor(s) James S. Adamitis It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 13, change "designated" to --designed--.

I Column 5, line 28, change "facilitates" to -facilitate-.

Claim 2, column 7, line 5, after "array," add at least some-.

Claim 4, column 7, line 58, after "together" delete on1y-.

Signed and sealed this 5th day of September 1972 Attest:

EDWARD M .FLE'ICHER, JR RQBERT GOTTSCHALK Atte sting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. Wiener grill apparatus comprising a housing, reel means mounted for rotation relative to said housing about a horizontal longitudinal core, means for driving said reel means, an annular array of hangers each maintaining a pre-established hanging orientation and extending longitudinally along the reel means and located radially outwardly of said core, stationary heat radiating means extending centrally of said reel means along said core, said hangers maintaining their said pre-established hanging orientations and making circular orbits about said heat radiating means while remaining parallel thereto during rotation of said reel means, said reel means including longitudinally spaced end members for supporting said hangers in said annular array and open-structured tying means located radially interiorly of said annular array of hangers for tying said end members to each other for rotation together without significantly interfering with either radiation of heat from said centrally extending heat radiating means or removal of wieners from said hangers, at least some of said hangers comprising an array of laterally extending wiener support members longitudinally spaced from each other and longitudinally extending means tying said array of said support members together at one side thereof whereby fingers or tongs or the like can be moved into or through the other side of the array to readily lift wieners therefrom, said means for driving said reel means comprising a stub shaft rotatable by power means and having a drive coupling coaxially engaging and carrying one of said reel end members and said one end member being releasable from the stub shaft drive coupling by slight longitudinal withdrawal of said reel means from said stub shaft, the other end member of the reel means having an annular central bearing flange, stationary bearing means carried on the frame and positioned to rotatably support the weight of the reel means via the central bearing flange and restrain the reel means against said slight longitudinal withdrawal but to allow removal of the restraint by manual lifting of the reel means from the stationary bearing means, the heat radiating means being longitudinally removable from interference with either of the reel end members whereby the reel is readily removable for cleaning by removing said heat radiating means and manually lifting the reel means from the stationary bearing means, said stub shaft drive coupling including slip clutch means between the shaft proper and the associated end member of the reel, said end members having formed therein mounting holes for receiving the hangers, the hangers having end heads which in assembled condition of the reel are removably received through said holes, the undersides of the end heads thereby being engageable with outer sides of the end members to restrain the hangers against longitudinal movement, but being removable from such engagement by manual lifting and longitudinal shifting of the hanger relative to the reel.
 2. Wiener grill apparatus comprising a housing, reel means mounted for rotation relative to said housing about a horizontal longitudinal core, means for driving said reel means, an annular array of hangers each maintaining a pre-established hanging orientation and extending longitudinally along the reel means and located radially outwardly of said core, stationary heat radiating means extending centrally of said reel means along said core, said hangers maintaining their said pre-established hanging orientations and making circular orbits about said heat radiating means while remaining parallel thereto during rotation of said reel means, said reel means including longitudinally spaced end members for supporting said hangers in said annular array, of said hangers comprising an array of laterally extending wiener support members longitudinally spaced from each other and longitudinally extending means tying said array of said support members together at one side thereof whereby fingers or tongs or the like can be moved into or through the other side of the array to readily lift wieners therefrom.
 3. Wiener grill apparatus comprising a housing, reel means mounted for rotation relative to said housing about a horizontal longitudinal core, means for driving said reel means, an annular array of hangers each maintaining a pre-established hanging orientation and extending longitudinally along the reel means and located radially outwardly of said core, stationary heat radiating means extending centrally of said reel means along said core, said hangers maintaining their said pre-established hanging orientations and making circular orbits about said heat radiating means while remaining parallel thereto during rotation of said reel means, said reel means including longitudinally spaced end members for supporting said hangers in said annular array, at least some of said hangers comprising an array of laterally extending wiener support members longitudinally spaced from each other and laterally extending sufficiently to allow a wiener to roll or laterally slide thereon far enough to displace itself by a full width or to support two wieners side by said theReon and parallel to said heating radiating means, said laterally extending wiener support members slanting slightly off the horizontal and downwardly toward one side of the reel means, corresponding to the front of the apparatus, in the said pre-established hanging orientation whereby a wiener placed on the hanger will always roll or slide toward the front of the apparatus if it is the only wiener supported on the hanger or if a wiener supported in front of it is removed, said hanger including longitudinally extending means tying said array of said support members together at one side thereof whereby fingers or tongs or the like can be moved into or through the other side of the array to readily lift wieners therefrom.
 4. Wiener grill apparatus comprising a housing, reel means mounted for rotation relative to said housing about a horizontal longitudinal core, means for driving said reel means, an annular array of hangers each maintaining a pre-established hanging orientation and extending longitudinally along the reel means and located radially outwardly of said core, stationary heat radiating means extending centrally of said reel means along said core, said hangers maintaining their said pre-established hanging orientations and making circular orbits about said heat radiating means while remaining parallel thereto during rotation of said reel means, said reel means including longitudinally spaced end members for supporting said hangers in said annular array, at least some of said hangers comprising an array of laterally extending wiener support members longitudinally spaced from each other and longitudinally extending means tying said array of said support members together only at one side thereof whereby fingers or tongs or the like can be moved into or through the other side of the array to readily lift wieners therefrom, said end members having formed therein mounting holes for receiving the hangers, the hangers having end heads which in assembled condition of the reel are removably received through said holes, the undersides of the end heads thereby being engageable with the outer sides of the end members to restrain the hangers against longitudinal movement, but being removable from such engagement by manual lifting and longitudinal shifting of the hanger relative to the reel.
 5. Wiener grill apparatus comprising a housing, reel means mounted for rotation relative to said housing about a horizontal longitudinal core, means for driving said reel means, an annular array of hangers each maintaining a pre-established hanging orientation and extending longitudinally along the reel means and located radially outwardly of said core, stationary heat radiating means extending centrally of said reel means along said core, said hangers maintaining their said pre-established hanging orientations and making circular orbits about said heat radiating means while remaining parallel thereto during rotation of said reel means, said reel means including longitudinally spaced end members for supporting said hangers in said annular array, said means for driving said reel means comprising a stub shaft rotatable by power means and having a drive coupling coaxially engaging and carrying one of said reel end members and said one end member being releasable from the stub shaft drive coupling by slight longitudinal withdrawal of said reel means from said stub shaft, the other end member of the reel means having an annular central bearing flange, stationary bearing means carried on the frame and positioned to rotatably support the weight of the reel means via the central bearing flange and restrain the reel means against said slight longitudinal withdrawal but to allow removal of the restraint by manual lifting of the reel means from the stationary bearing means, the heat radiating means being longitudinally removable from interference with either of the reel end members whereby the reel is readily removable for cleaning by removing said heat radiating means and manually lifting the reel means fRom the stationary bearing means.
 6. Wiener grill apparatus comprising a housing, reel means mounted for rotation relative to said housing about a horizontal longitudinal core, means for driving said reel means, an annular array of hangers each maintaining a pre-established hanging orientation and extending longitudinally along the reel means and located radially outwardly of said core, stationary heat radiating means extending centrally of said reel means along said core, said hangers maintaining their said pre-established hanging orientations and making circular orbits about said heat radiating means while remaining parallel thereto during rotation of said reel means, said reel means including longitudinally spaced end members for supporting said hangers in said annular array and open-structured tying means located radially interiorly of said annular array of hangers for tying said end members to each other for rotation together without significantly interfering with either radiation of heat from said centrally extending heat radiating means or removal of wieners from said hangers.
 7. Wiener grill apparatus comprising a housing, reel means mounted for rotation relative to said housing about a horizontal longitudinal core, means for driving said reel means, an annular array of hangers each maintaining a pre-established hanging orientation and extending longitudinally along the reel means and located radially outwardly of said core, stationary heat radiating means extending centrally of said reel means along said core, said hangers maintaining their said pre-established hanging orientations and making circular orbits about said heat radiating means while remaining parallel thereto during rotation of said reel means, said reel means including longitudinally spaced end members for supporting said hangers in said annular array and open-structured tying means located radially interiorly of said annular array of hangers for tying said end members to each other for rotation together without significantly interfering with either radiation of heat from said centrally extending heat radiating means or removal of wieners from said hangers, a plug receptacle carried by said frame or housing, a plug-handle carrying said heat radiating means and receivable in an opening in said frame or housing in mounted relationship therein and in plugged-in relationship with said receptacle to position the heat radiating means in the core of the reel means and connect it with a source of power, the plug-handle together with said heat radiating means being disconnectable and removable by withdrawal of the plug-handle from said receptacle and withdrawal of said heat radiating means through said opening. 